Abstract: Various embodiments related to the ability to find content for consumption across all endpoint computing devices in a computing system are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method for presenting content including aggregating endpoint metadata for each endpoint computing device in a computing system and content metadata of content stored on each of a plurality of endpoint computing devices, receiving a request for a content item on a selected endpoint computing device, querying aggregated endpoint metadata and content metadata to find instances of the content item and corresponding endpoint computing device locations, generating a ranked list of instances of the content item based on selection criteria, and selecting an instance of the content item from the ranked list for playback by the selected endpoint computing device.

Abstract: A video recording system that controls recording of television programming relating to sporting events to better match the intent of a user who specified programming for recording. The system merges data from an electronic program guide and sports data, such as from a news feed, to determine values of recording parameters, such as start and stop time and channel. User input may specify a player, team, league or other sports entity for which sporting events are to be recorded. The system may use the sports data to identify sporting events involving the specified sports entity and then access an electronic program guide to determine a channel on which to record the sporting events. When the user specifies a sporting event to record, sports data may be used to track progress of the event and dynamically adjust an ending time of the recording to ensure that the full event is recorded.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting whether or not two devices are proximate to one another in order to provide a shared computing experience are provided. The method includes broadcasting audio from a first computing device; receiving the broadcast audio at a second computing device; and processing the received audio to identify a unique audio signature within the broadcasted/received audio. The unique audio signature uniquely identifying the first computing device. The method may further include determining that the first computing device and the second computing device are proximate to one another based on the broadcast audio; and providing a shared computing experience at one or both of the first computing device and the second computing device, where the shared computing experience is not provided in the event that it is determined that the first and second computing devices are non-proximate to one another.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to the ability to find content for consumption across all endpoint computing devices in a computing system are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method for presenting content including aggregating endpoint metadata for each endpoint computing device in a computing system and content metadata of content stored on each of a plurality of endpoint computing devices, receiving a request for a content item on a selected endpoint computing device, querying aggregated endpoint metadata and content metadata to find instances of the content item and corresponding endpoint computing device locations, generating a ranked list of instances of the content item based on selection criteria, and selecting an instance of the content item from the ranked list for playback by the selected endpoint computing device.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to the ability to expose content for synchronization and consumption across all endpoint computing devices in a computing system are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method for communicating between authenticated clients of a cloud-based computing system, including sending a read request for metadata of each of a plurality of endpoint computing devices and content stored on each of the plurality of endpoint computing devices that is aggregated in a data store, receiving the requested metadata. The method further includes performing a content consumption operation that changes a state of the requested metadata. The method further includes sending updated metadata generated based on the content consumption operation to synchronize aggregated metadata in the data store, and deleting local metadata.

Abstract: Enhanced content consumption is provided by establishing a pairing between two computing devices, wherein at least one of the two computing devices provides a primary consumption experience of a digital content item, so that a secondary consumption experience can be provided via operation of at least one of the two computing devices. The method further comprises presenting, using at least one of the two computing devices, the digital content item for consumption by a user. The method further comprises performing one or more supplemental consumption functions with the other of the two computing devices.

Abstract: A video recording system that controls recording of television programming relating to sporting events to better match the intent of a user who specified programming for recording. The system merges data from an electronic program guide and sports data, such as from a news feed, to determine values of recording parameters, such as start and stop time and channel. User input may specify a player, team, league or other sports entity for which sporting events are to be recorded. The system may use the sports data to identify sporting events involving the specified sports entity and then access an electronic program guide to determine a channel on which to record the sporting events. When the user specifies a sporting event to record, sports data may be used to track progress of the event and dynamically adjust an ending time of the recording to ensure that the full event is recorded.

Abstract: A television recording system in which multiple client devices can form a group, sharing tuners and channel lineups. The clients may be desktop or laptop computers, digital video recorders or other set top boxes. A device within the group may act as a master, maintaining a master recording schedule and assigning tuners to record programs when scheduled or when a client requests use of a tuner for display live programming. Clients may register with the master, revealing the capabilities of their tuners. The master may, each time a tuner is desired, select an appropriate tuner based on multiple criteria, including bandwidth considerations and capabilities of the tuner.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to the presentation of an entertainment consumption history via a timeline. For example, one embodiment comprises receiving entertainment consumption history comprising one or more entertainment content identifiers each identifying one or more entertainment content items sent to a selected user. The entertainment consumption history also comprises, for each entertainment content identifier, information related to a time at which the one or more entertainment content items identified by the entertainment content identifier were sent to the selected user. The embodiment further comprises sending to a display device a graphical depiction of the entertainment consumption history data as a timeline with each entertainment content identifier being illustrated along a direction of a time axis at a location representative of the time at which the one or more entertainment content items represented by the entertainment content identifier were sent to the selected user.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to ancillary experience-based pairing. One embodiment provides a method comprising displaying content on a display, and displaying a tag on the display along with the content, where the tag comprises an image encoding instructions for pairing with the host computing device. The method further includes, while displaying the tag, receiving registration information from a client computing device, comparing the registration information to expected registration information, and if the registration information matches the expected registration information, then establishing a pairing between the host computing device and the client computing device. The method further includes, upon establishing the pairing, providing an ancillary user experience to the client computing device, where the ancillary user experience including content ancillary to the content.

Abstract: Embodiments related to controlling media privacy settings are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment provides a media server system including a configured to receive media consumption data for each media content item of a plurality of media content items consumed by a user. Media consumption data for each media content item includes an item-specific privacy status and a media content item identifier. The server is also configured to receive, from one or more of another user and a media content item recommendations program, a request for access to the media consumption data for a media content item, and to provide one or more of the other user and the media content item recommendations program with access to the media consumption data based on the item-specific privacy status of the media consumption data.